-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Located in rocky inter-tidal zone.
-
I assume this is a snake's skin chiton but what is going on here? Is this in breeding form, repairing it's armour or what?? That second second segment from the left is certainly not 'same old' stuff. This may be S. sinclairii X pelliserpentis. Both are similar S. sinclairii lacking longitudinal ridging as in this specimen, both have snakeskin skirt, both have been mooted as one variable sp, however only one form can be found in some stretches of coast. The reason it may be a hybrid is S sinclairii lacks the radial nodules evident on this specimen.
-
Living at the low intertidal zone. 40 - 50mm long.
-
Living at the low intertidal zone. about 30mm long.
-
Living at the low intertidal zone. Approx 35mm long.
-
Growing in a rock pool.
-
Identifying factors: Central valves with clear longitudinal ridges. End and side radial ridges clearly rows of nodules. There are in fact 3 species that have the snakeskin skirt. One, S torri, is limited strictly to the far south and Stewart Is and is half the size of the others. S. sinclairi is NZ wide has no longitudinal ridges and the radials are barely nodulous usually not at all.
-
Identifying factors: Central valves with clear longitudinal ridges. End and side radial ridges clearly rows of nodules. There are in fact 3 species that have the snakeskin skirt. One, S torri, is limited strictly to the far south and Stewart Is and is half the size of the others. S. sinclairi is NZ wide has no longitudinal ridges and the radials are barely nodulous usually not at all.
-
Apart from the skirt having the distinct snakeskin look with the distinctive light and dark banding pattern of large scales there are also the central valves with clear longitudinal ridges. End and side radial ridges shows rows of nodules. Lurking on a shaded rock wall in the low intertidal zone.
-
-
-
-
-
-